HikeStrong Podcast

Everest Base Camp Trekking Guide: 30+ Years of Experience | Hiking & Trekking Nepal, Sherpa Culture, Altitude Tips
Ang Tshering Lama, founder of Ang’s Himalayan Adventures, joins Marcus to share a powerful inside look at Everest Base Camp trekking, hiking in Nepal, guiding, and mountain culture. Ang explains his Tamang and Sherpa background, why the term “Sherpa” is often misunderstood, and how he began his trekking and guiding career in the early 1990s after studying mechanical engineering in India. With more than 30 years of experience—and five summits of Mount Everest—he founded Ang’s Himalayan Adventures in 2008.
Ang reflects on how Everest Base Camp trekking and hiking routes have evolved, from the classic Jiri approach that took around 21 days with full camping support, to today’s shorter, faster, and more comfortable trekking itineraries. He explains why he prefers longer, more immersive Everest Base Camp treks that allow hikers and trekkers to experience local villages, monasteries, culture, and proper acclimatization—elements often missed on rushed itineraries.
The conversation also explores how preparation for Everest Base Camp trekking has changed, why Ang believes many hikers are less prepared today, and how fitness, pacing, packing, hydration, fueling, and patience all play critical roles in reducing altitude-related risk. Ang shares what he looks for when trekkers arrive, why slow hiking and trekking pace matters, and why being fit is not just about reaching Everest Base Camp—it’s about having the energy to fully enjoy the mountains, wildlife, people, and the entire trekking journey.
Ang also tells the remarkable story of Mingmar Tamang, who first joined him as a 14-year-old porter and is now a trusted trekking guide who has summited Mount Everest four times. This episode is a thoughtful, practical, and deeply human conversation about Everest Base Camp trekking, hiking in Nepal, Sherpa culture, guiding wisdom, and what it truly means to prepare for a high-altitude trekking adventure.
Angs Himalayan Adventures
Contact Ang directly: ang.himalayas@gmail.com
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Can kids hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? In this episode of HikeStrong, Marcus talks with Anna, a mom of three who trained with her family for one of the world’s most iconic treks.
Anna and her husband wanted to create a meaningful adventure with their 13-year-old twin daughters and 14-year-old son, but they also had real concerns: altitude, stairs, endurance, mental toughness, and whether the kids would be ready for one of the world’s most iconic treks.
Anna shares how her family prepared in Georgia using local hikes, step-ups, stairs, trekking poles, snacks, and milestone elevation challenges. She also talks about motivating teenagers, managing setbacks, and building confidence before leaving for Peru.
The heart of the episode comes on Day 2 of the Inca Trail, during the climb to Dead Woman’s Pass. The daughter Anna once had to encourage through training hikes became the one encouraging her mom, saying, “You’ve got this, Mom.”
This conversation is about much more than hiking. It is about parenting, adventure, preparation, doing hard things as a family, and helping kids discover what they are capable of.
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A hiker who completed both Mount Kilimanjaro and the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu compares the training, terrain, altitude, stairs, weather, guides, and gear.
A few months after summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Alicia is back on the HikeStrong Podcast, this time after completing the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
In this episode, Alicia and Marcus compare Kilimanjaro and the Inca Trail from the perspective of someone who has trained for and completed both. They discuss the biggest differences in training, altitude, terrain, stairs, descents, guide support, gear, weather, and mental challenge.
Kilimanjaro was higher, colder, and more physically demanding, especially with summit night at 19,341 feet. The Inca Trail was shorter, but Alicia found the endless uneven stone steps, rain, and constant need to watch her footing mentally demanding in a completely different way.
Alicia also shares how her Kilimanjaro training carried over, why stair training mattered so much for Peru, how balance work helped her feel more confident, and why she now has a deeper understanding of what her body can do.
If you are deciding between Kilimanjaro and the Inca Trail, wondering how to train, or questioning whether you are “athletic enough” for a big trekking adventure, this episode offers honest, practical perspective from someone who has been there.
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Katherine and Ellen set out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro together, but they came into the journey from very different fitness backgrounds. In this episode, they share how they trained from the flatlands, what surprised them on the mountain, and how preparation, friendship, guides, and mindset helped them reach the summit.
In this episode of the Hike Strong Podcast, Marcus talks with Katherine and Ellen, two friends who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro together with Thomson Treks.
Katherine, 66, came into the experience with a long background in endurance sports, including triathlons, open-water swimming, cycling, and running. Ellen, 55, was active too, but her fitness routine leaned more toward Pilates, barre, hiking, and strength training. Both also lived in the flatlands of the Southeastern United States, which meant preparing for a 19,000-foot mountain required creativity, commitment, and a very intentional training plan.
What started as a travel idea between friends became a powerful lesson in preparation, confidence, community, and trust.
In this episode, we talk about:
 How the idea for Kilimanjaro started 
 Training for a mountain while living in flat places 
 The difference between general fitness and trip-specific preparation 
 Why treadmill climbing, stairs, step-ups, lunges, and balance work mattered 
 How training helped on both the ascents and descents 
 Gear lessons from Kilimanjaro 
 The role of guides, porters, and group support on summit day 
 What it felt like to reach the summit 
 Advice for anyone unsure about taking on Kilimanjaro 
Whether Kilimanjaro is on your list or you are simply preparing for your next big trail, this episode is a reminder that the right training, the right support, and the willingness to say yes can take you farther than you think.
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Most hikers focus on the trail—almost no one understands what shapes the experience before they arrive.
What does it really take to create a great hiking experience—and who’s working behind the scenes to make it possible?
In this episode, Marcus Shapiro sits down with Shannon Stowell, CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), to explore the hidden systems that shape adventure travel around the world. From developing destinations like the Jordan Trail and Patagonia to training guides and supporting local communities, Shannon shares how ATTA quietly influences the experiences hikers have every time they step onto a trail.
The conversation opens with a wild story—being unexpectedly pulled from his own event to meet a governor in Mexico—and quickly expands into deeper insights on what makes adventure travel meaningful, responsible, and sustainable.
Marcus also brings a powerful thought experiment to the table: two hikers summiting Kilimanjaro—one prepared, one not. Both reach the top, but the experience couldn’t be more different. What does that mean for guides, group dynamics, and the future of adventure travel?
You’ll also hear:
 How destinations like Chile and Jordan are developed into global hiking hubs 
 Why 30–50% of travelers still show up underprepared—and how that impacts guides 
 What “traveling better” really means (and how it can positively impact local communities) 
 Why adventure travel is more resilient than mass tourism 
 The growing trend of “dim sum travel”—doing more, not just one thing 
This episode connects the dots between prepared hikers, supported guides, and protected places—and why all three matter more than ever.
If you’ve ever wondered how your experience on the trail is shaped long before you arrive, this conversation will change how you see adventure travel.
Explore trips and get inspired @ https://www.adventure.travel/
Learn more about the work behind the Adventure Travel Trade Association @ https://www.adventuretravel.biz/
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